Editor’s Note: a guest post by Lane Grigsby, a Baton Rouge industrial construction magnate and long-time conservative activist.

Louisiana families know what’s best for their children. That’s why empowering parents to choose their own path is central to everything I’ve supported in K–12 education. Families deserve the freedom to choose the schools that best meet their children’s needs.

However, by the time a child reaches kindergarten, many of the most critical years of brain development have already passed. If we’re serious about school readiness, third-grade literacy, and long-term academic success, then we must prioritize our state’s first parent choice system: early childhood education (ECE).

In Louisiana, family choice is at the heart of ECE. Parents aren’t required to enroll their children, and district boundaries don’t apply. Instead, families choose what fits best, whether based on curriculum, location, hours, or resources. Yet, despite this strong foundation, too many parents are stuck on waitlists or forced to miss work opportunities because affordable options and adequate state funding simply aren’t available.

Most Louisiana families with young children rely on child care, and many, even those making up to $150,000 a year, are concerned about affordability. With costs often exceeding in-state college tuition, child care is usually a family’s largest expense. If we want a strong Louisiana, families of all incomes must have access to affordable, high-quality ECE programs.

This is a game changer for our working parents and Louisiana employers. Louisiana loses an estimated $1.3 billion annually due to child care-related workforce disruptions. Reliable, high-quality ECE keeps parents working, reduces absenteeism, and boosts productivity. It supports today’s workforce, while developing tomorrow’s.

Over a decade of research confirms: children enrolled in high-quality ECE programs are more likely to read on grade level by third grade, graduate high school, contribute meaningfully to the economy, and are less likely to engage in crime as adults. These aren’t feel-good anecdotes. These measurable outcomes translate into real returns for our communities and our economy.

Louisiana must empower parents to choose what’s best for their children. Our kids only get one shot at a strong start. Now is the time for bold investment. Our state’s future—its workforce, its economy, and its communities—depends on the foundation we build today. A stronger investment in ECE isn’t just smart policy; it’s a moral and economic imperative. Let’s get it right.